Water flow detector for ducts



R. M. HQPKHNS ET AL WATER FLOWDETECTOR FOR DUCTS Filed May 5,- 1951 2Sheets-Sheet WWW L q ATTORNEY W f p 1 q 393% R. M. HQPKWS AL fi y WATERFLOW DETECTOR FOR DUCTS Filed May 5, 1951 2 SheeLS SheQ'b 2 BY AMATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 21, 1936 2,038,111

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER FLOW DETECTOR FOR DUCTS Richard M.Hopkins, Rutherford, N. J., and Richard F. Spamer, Lynbrook, N. Y.,assignors to American District Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application May 5, 1931, Serial No. 535,190

14 Claims. (01. 200-81) The present invention relates to an improveoverthat shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is a parment in means for detectingliquid flow movement tially sectioned view to show varied details.

in ducts or pipes and for either recording such Fi 10 is a plan view ofthe housing with parts movements or for giving an alarm, upon suchremoved to below the line lO-|0, Fig. 9 to show liquid flow, whichdevice is provided with a superthe modified switch. 5 visory means tosound an alarm if the apparatus Fig. 11 is a side view of the switchoperating is tampered with. member.

Such devices are adapted, in one form of use,.. Fig. 12 is a similarview of same member roto be utilized in sprinkler systems such as aretated one quarter way around to show the V usually installed inbuildings, to act in case of points thereof. 10 fire, to throw fireextinguishing fluids thereon. Fig. 13 is a front view of a modifiedexpandin Another object of the invention is in the manimpulse member.ner of constructing the device, so that it may be In Figs- 1 d e f themain q d disreadily and easily installed in the piping of such tributorpip s of a sprin System s frag- 15 sprinkler systems as are alreadyinstalled, as well mentarily S own, and as in Fig. it is drilled and 15as on new systems about to be installed. t pp d With a Standard,tapering p thread Another object is to provide a supervisory of suitablesize, into which is screwed the threadmeans in conjunction with suchdevices, so that ed nipple 4 of a switch housing 23, the shoulif thedevice is tampered with, after installation, der 2 of which is bored toform a central chamsignals or recording means will be actuated to her 1therein and which ends at the threaded 20 give indication of suchtampering. This device end of the nipple 4. An upper preferably cirwillalso act as a fire alarm, in that if a sprinkler cular shell 3, open onits face, and closed by a system goes off, the liquid flow will beimmeremovable cover plate 5, completes the housing diately indicated andwill be then accepted as Structure. As thus made, this housing may be analarm for fire. applied by llin n ppin any standard dis- 25 A feature ofthe construction is to provide tributor pipe of asprinkler system. aircheck means for the exclusion of water from In the center of the bore 1,are arranged a pair electrical contacts controlling initiating alarm ofnormally closed terminal spring arm contacts mean in th apparatus, 8 and9 supported in an insulated block [0, which The device is simple, easyto install and it is seals the upper end of the bore 1, said sealed bore30 obvious that modifications may be made in the also forms an air checkto prevent water from device herein shown without departing from themachine said ta s 8 a 9; sa d onta ts are spirit of the invention northe scope of the exte d d upwa d beyond sa d block, a d fr m 1 1 which,conductors II and I2 lead to conductive In the drawings, pieces |3I3 andM; the conductive pieces Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of the devicel3l3 being in a circuit portion l5, through a with the cover partiallyremoved to clearly show tamper switch [6, and on through a magnet or thedetails. other electro-magnetic device I! to a source of Fig. 2 is asectional View taken on line 2-2, energy I8, from which wiring l9returns to the 40 Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.opposite side of the conductive piece or plate I4. 40

Fig. 3 is a face view of the expanded impulse This circuit I5-|9 as willbe noted is normally delivering member with part of the suspensionclosed and contains therein the closed switch means in section. 89, andthe tamper or supervisory switch I6,

Fig. 4 is a separate side view of an assembled which is held closed bythe cover 5 bearing on a impulse delivering member, showing a mode ofpin 20 on an upper spring arm 2|, of said switch, 45 inserting it intoor removing it from a supply pipe so that if an unauthorized personremoves the of a sprinkler system. I plate 5 or breaks the same in anattempt to tam- Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged views of the joinper withthe apparatus, the upper arm of the ture and connections of the impulsedelivering or switch [6 with its pin 20 will be free to swing uppaddlemember to illustrate the electrical and ward and break the alarminitiating circuit 50 spring tension means, and showing said memberl5l9, thus releasing armature 23 of the deenerin two circuit breakingpositions. gized coil l1 and permitting the spring 25 to force Fig. 8 isa detail section taken on the line 8-8 the said armature to close thecontact 28 of the of Fig. 6. alarm circuit 29. Fig. 9 discloses amodified form of structure The normally energized core I! holds acontact 55 22, on the armature 23 away from an insulated block 24 andagainst the pull of a spring 25. The block 24, is insulated from itssupporting spring arm 26 forming, with a companion spring arm 21, anormally open alarm switch 28 contained in a normally open alarm circuit29, in which is a source of electrical energy 30 and an alarm device 3|.Thus the normally closed switches 89 and IS; the circuits l5 and 19,connections I1 and I2, the coil IT, source I 8, and spring thrownarmature 23, collectively constitute alarm initiating means for closingthe normally open alarm circuit.

From the foregoing, it will be clearly evident that if by any means, aswitch of the closed alarm initiating means just described, be broken,the core ll would instantly release its armature 23 and the spring 25would operate to snap the said armature over, causing the contacts 22-24to engage, and going further would close the said normally open switch28, thus closing the alarm circuit 29 to operate the alarm.

Fixedly held by a drive fit or by other means to the walls of the bore1, and at the lower end thereof, is a disk 32, formed with an elongatedopening 33 through which a rock-link or stem 34 operates, said linkhaving a disk or collar 35 midway of its length formed with a downwardlydirected integral lug or pin 36, to prevent saidrock-link from turningin the opening 33 for the reason hereinafter described.

Formed with the rock-link 34 at its top is an insulated head 31 adaptedfor operative contact with an extended lower portion of the switchmember 8, and at its bottom, the link 34 carries a yoke 38, which ispivoted by a cross pin 39, to a lower yoke 40, through which thefoldable laminated fanshaped impulse delivering member or paddle 42 ishingedly, but not revolubly supported, for indicating or detectingliquid flow or movement in the distributor pipe I, of a sprinkler orother system, as hereinafter described.

Rigidly attached to the lower yoke or cross head 40, is the main bladeor member 4|, of the impulse devise42, and a tension spring 43 is coiledabout the cross pin 39 with one end bearing against the upper wall ofthe upper yoke 38; the free end 44 of said spring being slidablyreceived in a keeper 45, struck up from the material of the said mainblade 4|. The purpose of this spring which is comparatively heavy is tomaintain the impulse delivering device in normal alignment with the link34 and its head 31, and to maintain this relative position when a lowpressure flow of water is present in the pipe and the head 31 of thelink 34 is slightly tilted to break the switch 8-9 thus actuating thealarm initiating means for closing the alarm circuit to sound an alarmindicating water movement in the said pipe as shown in Fig. 7. Theimpulse delivering device 42 and the attached link 34 and insulated head31 are returned to the normal position when the water flow ceases, by abee hive or conical spring 46; but should a high pressure water flow bepresent in the pipe, the impulse delivering device 42 with its coactingparts would assume the position of Fig. 5, in which the disk 35 will betilted to cause its edge to contact with or bottom on the disk 32, thuspreventing the insulated head 31 from moving the contact arm 8, too farfrom arm 9, beyond its yield, to retain its resiliency, and as the saiddisk can tilt no farther, the joint formed by the pin 39, will breakagainst the action or urge of the spring arm 44, and when the highpressure ceases, the springs 44 and 46 will restore the impulsedelivering device and its associated parts to the normal position ofFig. 6, with the switch 8-9 closed.

The spring arm 44 serves a further function by permitting the impulsedelivering device or paddle 42 to either bend forwardly in a down streamposition in case of a fire condition when several sprinkler heads areopen, or, to bend backward should there be a back rush of water when thesystem is being drained.

We will now proceed to further describe the construction of the impulsedelivering or paddle device against which the water flow impinges andthe means whereby it may be folded into compact form for insertion intooperative position through athreaded bore in a sprinkler or other pipe.

Immediately below its supporting yoke or cross head 40, the main bladeor member 4| of the impulse delivering or paddle device 42 has a drilledhole (not shown) through which a sleeve, tube or bushing 50 is passedand on which a plurality of swingable plates or blades 5| are mountedand held in place by retaining washers 52. In prac tice, about fourplates or blades on either side of the main blade are found satisfactorybut more or less may be employed if desired.

A spring coil 53, may be disposed within the sleeve, tube or bushing 50,and it has extended spring terminals or arms 54, their ends beingconnected in sliding relation with loops 55, struck up from the materialof the outer blades 56 of the fan-like impulse delivering device tonormally urge the blade members to the operative unfolded or extendedposition when passed within the pipe, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 so as tohave the device occupy a large cross sectional area of the innerconfines of said pipe, said device being maintained at a lateral planeby the lug 36, engaging the slot 33 of the disk 32 as shown in Figs. 5,6 and '7.

Each of the other or intermediate blades 51 going to make up the impulsedelivering device, are similar in structure except as to length which inthis characteristic, the blades are progressively longer from the sidesof the device toward the center and each has an arcuate end 58 and aside extension 59 for engagement with a turned back hook 60, carried byits neighbor blade, thus interlocking the ends of the blades laterallyand circumferentially.

Short Wings 61 are also struck up from the blades 56 and 5'! to providelimiting stops when the blades are folded for inserting the devicethrough the hole 8 of the pipe I, said wings 6| abutting the shank ofthe loop 45 on one side of the device, and a stop 62 struck up from anedge of the main blade 4! at the opposite side, thus the blades may befolded in registration or alinement as in Fig. i, to pass through thehole 6 of the pipe I.

In the alternate form, shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, the functionis exactly like that described for Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive. Modificationof the structure in this alternate form is made for the purpose ofproviding a means between the impulse delivering paddle, and the switchmeans and casing whereby to permit of desired flexibility of the saidpaddle and connection, but to so construct said connections as topositively exclude the entry of liquid from the distributor pipe to theinterior of the switch casing.

In describing the details of this later modification, like parts aregiven the same indices as for those of similar function as described inthe prior described structure.

To this end the distributor pipe I has a threaded bore 6, to receive thethreaded nipple 4 of the switch housing 23. The central chamber 1 in theshoulder 2 joins the chamber of the shell or casing 3, which is closedwith a cap plate 5.

In the upper portion of the casing 3 is mounted the'supervisory ortamper indicating switch 2| held closed by the cover 5 bearing upon thepin 20, for the same purposes as described for Figs. 1 and 2. The twomembers forming the supervisory switch 2| are mounted upon theinsu1ating block 64, and are in turn connected in series to the lowerswitch members 8-9, Fig. 9 by connections not shown but of similarnature to that described and shown for Figs. 1 and. 2.

The switches 8-9 shown in plan in Fig. 10 comprises a pair of U shapedmembers, the outer leg of each of which is longer than the inner legsand are attached to the opposite sides of the block 64 and have leadwires l5l9 leading therefrom to an alarm system l8 to 3|, as describedand shown for Fig. 1. In normal conditions the inner shorter legs of theswitch members 89 approach each other at a decreasing angle and bearseparate contact points ab respectively, that are normally closed.

An operating member comprising an insulated sleeve 3! is carried on theend of a stem 65 which is fixedly mounted upon the V shaped end of acylindrical block 66, the upper end of which is cut to a taper or knifeedge 10, Figs. l112. The lower end of this cylindrical piece is providedwith a groove 61, a smaller cylindrical extension 68 having a coilspring engaging groove 69 therein.

As in Fig. 9, the chamber I of nipple 2 is closed at its upper face byan affixed tubular member having a downwardly depending tubularextension H with an integral flange 12 affixed in a water-tight manner.to the bottom wall of the casing by rivets or screws 13. The lower endof the tube "H is cut with an upwardly transverse tapering seat, asshown, into which the knife blade edge 10 of the block 66 is seated.

Over the outer cylindrical faces of the tube 1| and the block 66 isslipped a flexible rubber tubing 14, around the ends of which aretwisted wire fasteners, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. Both the tube andthe block are grooved as shown immediately under these wires, as at 61,and the tube 14 is therefore compressed into these grooves in a watertight but flexible manner. The rubber tube may also be vulcanized on tothe associate parts, H and 66, if desired.

The resiliently collapsible fan like paddle member 42, Fig. 13, isconstructed along the same lines as that described for Figs. 3-4, inthat it comprises a plurality of separate, stopped blades 5| pivotallyattached to a main connection 50, is provided with spring opening means54 all about as described for Figs. 34.

There areonly slight differences of construction herein involved. Themain difference relates to the manner of attaching the fan or impulsedelivering member to the block 66 to operate the switch end 3'! to openthe switches 1-8, upon the flow of liquid through pipe 1.

For this purpose, the main plate or blade 4|, Fig. 13, of the paddle hasrigidly afiixed at its upper end an upstanding stem 11, grooved as atI8. When this complete paddle is assembled to the block 66, as in Fig.9, it is connected by its stem H to the lower extension 68 of the block66, by means of a coiled spring 19, Fig. 9. The outer opposite ends ofthe coiled spring 19 are caught in the grooves 69 and 18 of the membersdescribed and is thereby locked in operative position, thus holding thepaddle 42 in resilient assembly to the knife blade block 66.

In the structure thus described, the paddle assembly 42 thus connectedto the switch opening means 31, to operate the same, by a doubleresilient connection, comprising spring 19 and rubber tube 14. Thus twojoints are formed, one by the knife edge assembly 10-43 and the spring19. In action a flow of liquid through the pipe I would move the paddleto any position A-B shown dotted Fig. 9, thereby to open the switches 89by separating them due to the inclination of the both arms thereof, andgive an alarm. If a back surge occurs, it would be in the oppositedirection and therefore, due to the tapering arrangement of the innerlegs of the switches 8-9,

a back movement would leave them unaffected and no alarm would beinitiated.

As thus constructed the knife edge joint permits actuation of switch atthe proper time, while the coil spring 19, which is fairly rigid,permits the paddle to swing upwardly to clear the pipe as much aspossible so as to leave as little obstruction as is necessary to asubstantially full flow of liquid thereby.

Thus, the modified form just described permits of flow action toinitiate an alarm, allows the impulse delivering or paddle member tomove freely out of the way of the moving stream to allow substantiallyfree unobstructed fiow of liquid therethrough and does not send an alarmupon back surges or water hammer in the dis tributor pipes. Owing to themanner of housing and mounting the movable members of this latterstructure, water cannot reach the interior of the switch casing 3, whileallowing of great freedom of action of the operative parts.

It will further be apparent from the foregoing description, that weevolved an unfailing signal apparatus for detecting liquid flow movementwhich is quickly attachable to determined pipes in sprinkler systems orin other installations where sensitive alarm devices are required, andsupervisory means whereby tampering with the signal device is instantlydetected and an alarm actuated.

It is thought that the operation and utility of the device will beapparent without further description and while in the drawings there isillustrated what we now consider the best forms of the device, it is tobe understood that the structural elements thereof are susceptible tosuch variations and modifications as fall Within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What we claim as new is:

1. In combination, a pipe having an opening therein; a housing having anipple in said opening having a bore; an insulated block in and sealingsaid bore; a detector switch comprising members passing through saidblock and having contact portions between the block and the interior ofsaid pipe; a flow detector in the pipe engaging said detector switch; afulcrum member in said bore between said contact portions and theinterior of the pipe, and partially closing the bore; said block sealingthe bore and effecting the function of pocketing air therein and 00-operating with the fulcrum member to prevent the passage of Water fromthe pipe to the contact portions.

2. In combination, a pipe having an opening therein; a housing having anipple in said opening having a bore; an insulated block in said bore; adetector switch comprising members passing through said block; a flowdetector in the pipe engaging said detector switch; a fulcrum member insaid bore between said contact portions and the interior of the pipe,and partially closing the bore; said block and fulcrum membercooperating to pocket air in the bore and cooperating with the fulcrummember to prevent the passage of water from the pipe to the switchmembers.

3. A flow detector comprising fulcrum means adapted to be inserted in abore; a stem rockably connected to the fulcrum means; a paddle pivotallysupported by the stem for movement relative to the stem transverse tothe plane of the paddle; and yieldable means to yieldably hold saidpaddle substantially in a plane of the stem thereby to allow yieldablerelative movement between said stem and paddle; said stem being adaptedto be removed from said bore, the stem then having the function ofcarrying and supporting the fulcrum means, the yieldable means and thepaddle as a unitary assembly to facilitate easy insertion and removal ofsaid assembly.

4. A flow detector comprising a stern adapted to be fulcrumed; aplurality of blades pivoted at one end on said stem on the same pivotalaxis for movement in approximately the same plane with each other andthe pin; yieldable means holding said blades yieldably normally divergedto form a paddle pointed toward the outer end of the stem; said meansand blade cooperating to result in the function that said paddle willautomatically collapse when drawn, in the direction of said pivoted end,through a narrow opening.

5. A flow detector comprising a stem adapted to be intermediatelyfulcrumed; a plurality of blades pivoted at one end on said stem andconverging in the direction of one end of the stem, the free ends of theblades being diverged in a direction away from said end and lyingfiatwise in a plane of the stem; means holding said blades yieldablydiverged; said blades when diverged forming a tapered paddle having anarrow end at the pivoted ends of the blade whereby when the paddle isdrawn, with said narrow end first, through a narrow opening, the edgesof said opening will engage the outer edges of the paddle andautomatically collapse the paddle to facilitate passage of said paddlethrough the opening.

6. In combination, a flow pipe; a housing having a narrow openingcommunicating with the side of the pipe; a flow detector comprising astern intermediately fulcrumed in said housing, and a plurality ofblades in said pipe, pivoted at one end on said stem, and converging inthe direction of the outer end of the stem, the free ends of the bladesbeing diverged in a direction away from said end and lying flatwise in aplane of the stem and transverse to the pipe; means holding said bladesyieldably diverged; said blades when diverged forming a tapered paddlehaving a narrow end at the pivoted ends of the blade whereby when thepaddle is drawn,with said narrow end first, from the pipe through saidnarrow opening, the edges of said opening will engage the outer edges ofthe paddle and automatically collapse the paddle to facilitate passageof said paddle from the pipe; said blade having the function of easycollapse by a single hand for insertion through the narrow opening intothe. pipe.

7. In combination, a flow pipe having an opening therein; a housinghaving a nipple in said opening having a bore; an insulated block in andsealing said bore remote from the pipe; a detector switch comprisingspring members rigidly held in, and passing fluid tight through saidblock and having contact spring portions between the block and theinterior of said pipe; a fulcrum member in said bore between saidcontact portions and the interior of the pipe, and almost completelyclosing the bore and provided with a small bore; a flow detector in theflow pipe engaging said detector switch and passing loosely through saidsmall opening; said block sealing the bore fluid-tight and pocketing airtherein between said block and fulcrum member and cooperating with thefulcrum member to prevent the passage of water from the pipe through theloose connection at said small opening to the contact portions.

8. A flow detector comprising a support adapted to be fixedly insertedin a hole in the side of a pipe and having a bore; a fulcrum meansrockably connected to said support, for movement relative thereto; astem therein rockably connected to the fulcrum means for movementtherewith; a vane pivotally connected to the stem for movement relativeto the stem and fulcrum means transverse to the plane of the vane andsubstantially longitudinally of the pipe; and yieldable means toyieldably hold said vane substantially in alinement with the stemthereby to allow yieldable relative movement between said stem and vane;said stem, fulcrum means, vane and yieldable means being connectedtogether and adapted to be removed outwardly from said bore as a unitaryassembly while the support is in the hole.

9. A flow detector comprising a support having a bore and adapted to beinserted in a bore in the side of a pipe; fulcrum means yieldablyconnected to the support; a stern connected to the fulcrum means; a vanepivotally connected to the stem for movement relative to the sterntransverse to the plane of the vane longitudinally of the pipe in eitherdirection; yieldable means to yieldably hold said vane substantially inalinement with the stem thereby to yieldably move the stem and allowyieldable relative movement between said stem and vane and a switch lside of a pipe, said support having a bore; a

stem in said bore; a fulcrum means rockably mounting said stem in thebore; a vane; a pivot means for pivotally connecting the vane to thestem for angular movement relative to the stern transverse to the planeof the vane and supporting the vane; and yieldable means to yieldablyhold said vane against said angular movement relative to the stemthereby to allow yield able relative movement between said stem andvane; said pivot means being movable in a direction substantiallylongitudinal to the pipe.

11. A flow detector comprising a stem adapted to be disposed in a borein the side of a pipe; means for rockably supporting said stem in saidbore for relative movement of the inner end of the stem longitudinallyof the pipe; a vane; pivot means mounted on the inner end of the sternfor movement longitudinally of the pipe with the stem and pivotallyconnecting the vane to said inner end of the stem in and transverse tothe pipe for movement relative to the stern transverse to the plane ofthe vane and longitudinal to the pipe; and yieldable means to yieldablyhold said vane substantially in alinement with the stem thereby to allowyieldable relative move-- ment between said stem and vane.

12; In combination, a flow pipe; a housing having a narrow openingremovably communicating with the side of the pipe; a flow detectorcomprising a stem fulcrumed to said housing; and a vane in said pipeconnected at one end on said stem, and having its side edges adjacent tosaid stem converging in the direction of the stem; said vane beingyieldably extended transverse to the pipe and forming a tapered vanehaving a narrow end at the stem-end of the vane; means so connecting theside portions of said vane to the intra-marginal part of the vane thatwhen they are in normal extended position pressure on the side edgesdirectly toward each other will collapse the vane; the taper of the vanetoward the stem being so gradual that when the housing, stem and vanedrawn from the pipe through said narrow opening, the edges of saidopening will engage the outer edges of the vane and automaticallycollapse the vane to allow the passage of said vane from the pipe.

13. In combination, a flow pipe; a housing having a narrow openingremovably communicating with the side of the pipe; a flow detectorcomprising a stem fulcrumed to said housing, and a vane in said pipe,connected at one end on said stem, and disposed transverse to the pipe,in part substantially in the axis of the stem; said vane being yieldablyextended transverse to the pipe; means so connecting the side portionsof said vane to the intra-marginal part of the vane that when they arein normal extended position pressure on the side edges directly towardeach other will collapse the vane, whereby the vane has the function ofeasy collapse by a single hand for insertion through the narrow openinginto the pipe.

14. A flow detector comprising a housing adapted to be inserted in abore in the side of a pipe; an elongated yieldable fulcrum means;mounting means securing one end of the fulcrum means to said housingwith the fulcrum means disposed longitudinally of said bore, leaving theother end of the fulcrum means free and movable transverse to the boreand longitudinal to the pipe; a stem disposed longitudinally in thefulcrum means and having one end part secured to said free end andmovable therewith, said stem being movable angularly of said bore; apivot means secured to the inner end of said stem and supported by thestem and the yieldable fulcrum means and movable longitudinally of thepipe as the pin and fulcrum means move; a, collapsible vane pivotallysupported by the pivot means for movement angularly relative to the stemand for movement longitudinal to the pipe and transverse to the plane ofthe vane; and yieldable means carried by the pivot means and vane toyieldably hold said vane substantially in alinement with the stemthereby to allow yieldable relative movement between said stem and vane;said fulcrum means and mounting means being adapted to be removedoutwardly from said pipe; the yieldable fulcrum means then having thefunction of carrying and supporting the mounting means, the stem, theyieldable means and the vane as a unitary assembly.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS. RICHARD F. SPAMER.

